For people who are not certified, we offer the PADI Discover Scuba Diving (minimum age 10 years). There is a short theory segment to do before you arrive, which takes 20-30 minutes, and at the center your instructor will review what you’ve learned before you go underwater and take your first breaths underwater and do some skills before discovering the reefs and marine life here. Find out more here.

You can also choose to do your PADI Open Water Course - become a certified diver here.

Come diving in one of the nicest dive spots in the Caribbean and with the #1 Dive Center in Panamá. You will be guided by one of our highly experienced Divemasters or Instructors. Find out about our fun dive options here.

If you are certified, but have not been diving in over two years (but less than five years), we strongly recommend that you take a short refresher session with one of our PADI professionals before you dive again. Find out more about the refresher session here.

If you’ve not been diving for a longer time (more than five years, and up to ten years) then the ReActivate Program is for you! The program is for any certified diver, at any level and with any organisation. Find out about Reactivate here.

Yes! Warm waters and a protected bay area allow us to dive comfortably all year around, with most dive sites just a short 5-10 minute boat ride away. In September and October, when sea conditions permit, we take trips further out to Tiger Rock, Dolphin Rock and the caves at Bastimento.

Read our blog about the dive sites in Bocas here.

We have 15+ dive sites inside the bay within 5-10 minutes of BDC. Since these sites are so close, we can decide on the day which site to dive depending on your preferences, and, of course, the conditions. Most of the reefs in Bocas are shallow (approximately 5-15m / 15-50ft), and there is little to no current and calm ocean surface.

There’s a variety of dive sites and environments including shipwrecks, Pinnacles, Caverns and swim-throughs, suitable for all levels of divers. You can also explore our very own dive site Mayday - named after the sunken airplane and shipwrecked sailboat, with our house coral reef and ‘I love Bocas’ underwater sculpture. Read our blog about the dive sites in Bocas here.

For certified divers, we offer 4 dives per day inside the bay, 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. Our boat schedule is as follows:

• 9:00 AM (Check in 8:15 AM at reception)

• 2:00 PM (Check in 1:15 PM at reception)

We also organize night dives, more information available by email info@bocasdivecenter.com.

If you want to learn to dive, see our program and course options here.

For certified divers, see prices for our fun dive trips here.

The easiest ways to book are:

> via our website www.bocasdivecenter.com

> in person at our center reception, with a cash deposit of $20 per person.

> send an email to info@bocasdivecenter.com for other options to book

Dives can be booked via the website up until 7.30pm the day before you want to dive.

PADI courses and programs must be booked 36 hours in advance of the desired dive date and before 7.30pm.

Deposits are non-refundable. If you need to cancel, please let us know at least 24 hours before your start date. You may also reschedule your dives anytime within the next 6 months.

The Center is conveniently located in Bocas Town on Isla Colon, at the end of 4th Street, next to the ferry dock.

We are right next to the ocean and have a beautiful view from the restaurant Pier19, where you can enjoy a coffee/tea in the morning, or a post-dive beer.

We are the only PADI 5* IDC Center in the area, and you can undertake a huge range of PADI courses from Discover Scuba experiences to Instructor courses, and more than 15 different specialties. Another option for you could be to go for the next core level certification and/or increase your knowledge in some specific area of your interest with some of our specialties. The most popular here are wreck, night, deep, and conservation - including Project Aware, Dive Against Debris, Coral Conservation. View your options here.

We offer a five star personalized service, and to provide our divers with the best experience possible, we limit the number of divers in our groups to 6 certified divers per guide (or 4 non-certified per instructor). Your safety is always number one priority.

All 3 of our boats have onboard emergency equipment (oxygen, first aid kit, radio, life vests), and we also provide towels, coffee, water, and fresh fruit and cookies onboard, as well as fresh towels and a warm shower after your dives. After your dives, learn more about the marine life you spotted on your dive during our dive debrief, whilst enjoying a complimentary drink with us.

For fun divers, you will be taken care of at every step of the way - we set up your gear, help you gear-up, change your tanks between dives, and rinse and dry your equipment. If you’re diving with us again, we’ll store all your gear ready for the following day, so you can relax and enjoy your vacation.

For dive students, we’ll show you how to do all of the set up yourself so that you can learn how to set up your equipment safely and responsibly to become the best diver you can be.

We customize dive trips according to the needs of our clients, including private charters. Email us at info@bocasdivecenter.com and let us know what you are looking for.

Read what other divers are saying about us on TripAdvisor here.

Yes, we have a dive-themed onsite Divers' Paradise Boutique Hotel. Contact info@diversparadise.com or WhatsApp +507 6611 2760 to inquire about availability and rates.

Yes - you can Go Pro with BDC, and make your passion your work and become a professional scuba diver. Gain your Divemaster qualification here at Bocas Dive Center and take your first step towards your professional dive career. Or if you’re already a Divemaster and want to start to teach diving, you can undertake your Instructor Development Course. Find out more about how to Go Pro at BDC here.